CHURCHES OF PALO ALTO COUNTY
From Atlas of Palo Alto County
Compiled 1969 by Title Atlas Company; Minneapolis, Minnesota

ST. THOMAS CHURCH
EMMETSBURG, IOWA

     In 1905, Most Rev. Philip Garrigan, Bishop of Sioux City, appointed the Rev. Michael McNerney to organize the new St. Thomas parish in Emmetsburg. Mr. Thomas Tobin and his wife, Ellen, had left a bequest for a new church and school in the north part of Emmetsburg. When Father McNerney came to Emmetsburg, in 1905, he lived with the Rev. J.J. Smith, and assisted him in the work of Assumption Parish.
    The construction of St. Thomas Church was begun in the spring of 1905. It was completed in Aug., 1906, at a cost of $35,000. The church was dedicated by Bishop Garrigan. It is brick, Gothic design and seats 450 people. Under the church is a well arranged parish hall. P.R. Wells of Emmetsburg was the contractor.
    A house for a rectory was purchased by Father McNerney for $3200. This house was built by James D. Sturdevent in 1898. Mr. Sturdevent was a prominent building contractor and built this large frame house for his personal residence. It is located one block north of St. Ellen School, and still serves as the rectory for St. Thomas Parish.
    In 1914, a large, substantial brick, 8-grade school building was erected. The cost of this building was $25,000, with Julius Skow as the contractor. The funds for building this school were given by the Tobin estate. Moreover, an endowment for the maintenance was provided by the will of Mr. Tobin. This endowment expired in 1965. The school has a capacity of 175 students. When the school opened in 1914, it was staffed by Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose mother house is in Dubuque.
    A beautiful red brick convent for the Sisters was built in 1925, at a cost of $25,000. The funds for this convent were provided by the people of the parish.
    In 1952, a new brick Catholic High School was built in conjunction with the Assumption Parish; this building cost $180,000. In 1957, Corrigan Hall was built to serve as the gymnasium-auditorium-dining room for the High School. It was named after miss Florence E.M. Corrigan of Illinois, who left a 160-acres farm in Palo Alto county for this purpose. This building cost $237,000. The sale and income from the Corrigan farm amounted to $57,000. The remainder of the cost was paid by the members of the Assumption and St. Thomas Parishes.
    Since the parish was founded, there have been only two pastors, Rev. Michael McNerney, who served faithfully from 1905 to 1944 and Father Clarence E. Farrelly, who has been pastor since 1944.
    Because of the shortage of Sisters, St. Ellen's School and St. Mary's School were consolidated in Sept. 1967. And because of the same reason, the high school was closed in Sept. 1968. The former high school building is now being used by the Catholic Grade School. These buildings are on the grounds of the Assumption Parish. At present, St. Ellen's School and Convent are being used by the Emmetsburg Community School District.